by Paula Quinn
Adam looked at the poor gel behind her. Like Miss Newton, she remained silent to the decisions being made for her. It helped him understand even more what it took for Sina, being raised this way, to fight back.
He turned to set his gaze on her. She’d looked away, but the slight tilt of her neck revealed that she was still listening.
“That will be impossible, Lady Mordaunt,” he said with a polite smile. “I currently have my heart set on winning Miss de Arenburg’s affections.”
“Oh.” Lady Mordaunt stared up at him with surprise and disappointment marring her features. She slipped her gaze to Sina, and it went cold. “Perhaps Miss de Arenburg should take a little time to remember that she was betrothed to another just days ago.”
Adam stepped aside when Sina rose from the chair. Her spine was straight, her shoulders set, her chin lifted slightly up.
“Lady Mordaunt.” Her voice snapped across the air as she moved closer. “I remember his hands around my throat, squeezing until he cut off my air. I remember looking into his eyes and seeing a merciless stranger. Should I mourn that?”
“But you had a past with him,” Lady Mordaunt defended.
Sina laughed softly, mesmerizing Adam. “What good is a past when he tried to take my life from me? I should be celebrating that I am free of him.”
Adam agreed with her and nodded his head. He didn’t interrupt. She didn’t need him to.
“As you would be doing if I were your granddaughter.”
Lady Mordaunt tossed her a nervous half smile, then dragged her granddaughter away.
“This is going to happen often,” Sina sighed, looking up at him. “Especially now that the king made you a hero.”
As much as it satisfied him that she was jealous, he didn’t want her to be. “It willna last once word spreads that my heart is set on ye.”
“Is it, Highlander?” Her anxious heart melted before his eyes with a bewitching crinkle of her nose and the flash of her dimple.
“Take a walk with me so I can show ye, lass.” He offered her his elbow and she accepted without hesitation.
He’d won her. He was grateful she let him. He wasn’t leaving England without her.
“Goliath,” he called, and waited a moment while his dog came, carrying his bone, then left the dining hall with Sina.
They stepped out into the queen’s garden as it began to rain. There were still people strolling about, so they walked beyond the citrus trees and came to the alcove. No one was there.
He pulled her into the shadows and dragged her into his arms, unable to wait another instant for her.
He took her face in his hands and stared into her eyes knowing she saw his heart there. He leaned in and tilted her face to his. His gaze dipped to her lips, parted and ready to receive him.
“Ye have my heart, lass,” he whispered and kissed her reply from her mouth. Ah, but he loved kissing her. He loved the taste of her and the feel of her in his arms.
His tongue stole across hers in a beguiling reminder of their passion. He pressed her closer—not close enough. He deepened their kiss, wanting more of her. Sensing she wanted the same thing.
Lightning flashed outside the alcove as waves of rain fell. They watched for a moment, both realizing what it meant.
No one was coming.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sina was late. She’d asked her father for a word and agreed to meet him in an hour—an hour and a half ago.
After making love to Adam in the alcove, they’d waited until the rain abated before they hurried back to the palace. She was wet and had to change her clothes.
Finally, she stood at the door to her father’s private chambers and knocked.
One of his servants opened the door and allowed her entry. She waited a moment until the king and her mother appeared from another doorway. Her father looked sullen and angry. At first Sina thought she was the cause. But he carried a letter with him and shook it in the air.
“Sit down, Sina,” he said solemnly. “I have news from the Bishop Robinson.”
Her heart skipped. The bishop? Did she dare hope? “What is it, Father?” she asked, taking a seat in a red brocade cushioned chair.
He waited until Sina’s mother sat facing her daughter.
“’Tis terrible news, my dear,” he told her, still standing. “The bishop has refused to annul your marriage to MacGregor.”
Sina thought she might faint where she sat. He was still her husband! She, his wife! Oh…She caught her breath and wilted into her chair, pretending now to almost faint at this terrible news.
“He has been informed that the MacGregors have in their possession a letter written and signed by Queen Anne giving your hand in marriage. He will not annul it until he speaks to you himself. He will be here in three days.”
“There was a letter from the queen,” Sina said, doing her best to sound numb. “She said you consented.”
“She deceived me about what kind of people they were.”
Sina shook her head. “No, she didn’t. She told you the truth. You know one side of the story.”
“Sina,” her mother asked, astonished. “Are you defending them?”
“Of course I am. I have been from the beginning. They are kind and loving, and they were following the queen’s orders. They did nothing wrong.”
Another thought occurred to her and her mouth went dry. “Did the bishop say how he received news of the letter?” Were the MacGregors in London? What if they came here? Chances were, they would. Her hands began to shake.
“He did not,” her father said. “I’m afraid I must deny Lord Hamilton your hand until this is resolved.”
Sina felt terrible about not telling him the truth. It was worse now than before. She’d let it go on, let Adam make a fool of him. He would never forgive them and would hate the MacGregors even more.
“He’s never going to forgive or trust me.” Her father finally sank into his chair. “He saved my life, and now I must refuse him the one thing he wants.”
It made her eyes misty that her father was worried about Adam forgiving him. “He will forgive you, Father. He is kind and understanding.”
“I know, daughter,” he said, reaching out to take her hands. “You’ve opened up much to him and he’s helped me to understand where I have failed you.”
“You haven’t failed me—”
He held up his hand to stop her. “I’m going to declare you publicly. I will even legitimize you so that one day you may be queen.”
“No,” she told him. “I don’t want to be queen, only your daughter.”
“That, you are,” he said, smiling. “And soon all of Great Britain will know it.”
Her heart swelled. This is what she wanted her whole life. To have a family, to be one—openly.
But, it didn’t seem as important as it used to be.
“Thank you, Father.”
“Now, don’t worry about the bishop,” he said, patting her hands and moving back in his chair. “The union wasn’t consummated, and you were wed against your will. Once I declare you, the bishop will not agree to a union between the king’s daughter and an outlaw.”
Sina’s head spun. The marriage was consummated, and often. She might even be carrying Adam’s babe right now. The thought of it filled her with images of being surrounded by sisters, mothers, aunts, and cousins.
Dear God, what were they going to do?
“Now, what was it you wanted to speak to me about?” he asked gently.
He had to be told the truth. But she didn’t have the courage to do it alone. “’Tis about…Lord Hamilton. I love him, Father. ’Tis a different kind of love than what I felt for William. It consumes me and doesn’t let me think of anything but him. I will never be happy with anyone else. I want to be his wife.”
“I will do everything I can to make it happen, Sina,” her father promised. “I like the lad. He’s brave and he loves you. Of that I’m certain.”
Sina wanted to rejoice but could
n’t. It was all a lie.
She left her parents, feeling worse than she did before.
“We must tell him the truth, Adam.” Sina wept in his arms. They sat together on a settee in her apartment. She found him and brought him here to tell him what happened. They were both happy to still be husband and wife, but they agreed their deceit was growing—and soon there would be no turning back. It might already be too late.
“I’m meeting him for a game of chess before bed,” Adam soothed. “I’ll tell him.”
“No”—she looked up from his chest—“we will tell him. I’m coming with you. We both deceived him.”
He shook his head. “Ye wouldna have—”
She halted the remainder of his argument with a kiss. She didn’t want to think about tonight or tomorrow. She wanted to continue kissing his warm, plump mouth, safe and happy in his arms.
But they had to see the king and confess. “I’m afraid,” she whispered, breaking their kiss.
“Everything will be all right, lass.”
“How do you know?”
He met her teary gaze with a confident smile. “Because I willna give up. But fer now, let’s leave Goliath here.”
They left her room and went directly to the northwest side and made their way up the marble staircase to her father’s rooms.
“Yer hand is tremblin’,” Adam said, stopping and turning to her. “Why dinna ye wait fer me dounstairs?”
“No, I’m fine.” She straightened her shoulders and pulled him along. “We’re doing this together.”
She reached the doors and rapped on them soundly.
“Ye’re a brave lass,” Adam said beside her, smiling at her while they waited. “Any man would be proud to have ye at his side.”
“You are the brave one,” she whispered back. “You are the one smiling. You never seem concerned with things, and yet, I know you are.”
“I’m glad ye know. ’Tis one of the things I love so—”
The door opened and the king’s private butler offered them entry with a swish of his arm.
Adam was wrong. She wasn’t brave. Her knees were shaking. Her head was pounding as hard as her heart. What would her father do? Did Adam have a plan? Why did he seem so confident? Why did he always seem so confident?
Never mind why, it calmed her fears.
They were led through the sitting rooms to the inner chamber, where her father sat at his chess table, waiting.
When he saw her enter with Adam, he rose from his seat to greet them.
“Hamilton, I’m sure Melusina has told you about her annulment to the MacGregor. I assure you, I had no idea.”
“I know, Sire,” Adam told him. “We’ve come to have a word with ye.”
“Of course. Sit,” her father ordered softly. “Drink?”
Sina shook her head, as did Adam.
A knock came at the door before it opened and the butler entered with a folded parchment in his hand. He handed it to the king and spoke softly toward the king’s ear.
Sina watched her father’s expression go from curious to angry, then back to curious.
Dismissing his servant, he unfolded the letter and looked up from it briefly to address them.
“’Twas delivered by Miss Newton on behalf of Standish.”
Sina looked at Adam. What in blazes was William trying to do?
Her father began to read and then looked up again.
“’Tis a letter to him…from you.”
No! It couldn’t be! How had he gotten it? What did it say? What did she write him? She couldn’t remember. Her thoughts raced and collided. She heard Adam’s voice in the clamor.
“Sire, allow me—”
The king held up his palm and continued reading.
“‘To help you understand the barbarian I’ve been sworn to, his closest friend is a black hound from the piths of hell he calls…Goliath.’”
Sina’s heart stopped.
Everything stopped. For a moment, the world went completely dead.
Then her father spoke. His voice quavered with rage and stunned disbelief. “You are MacGregor.”
“Sire, my intention was—”
“—not to deceive me?” the king finished for him. “You think me a fool?” He continued before Adam could answer. “You almost tricked me into giving my daughter’s hand to you, yet again.”
“Nae, I would no’ have gone before a priest with her until ye knew the truth,” Adam defended. “I simply wanted—”
“There is nothing simple about this!” her father roared. “You made a fool of me!”
Sina closed her eyes to halt her tears, but they still came.
“I saved yer life,” Adam reminded him stiffly. “Even after ye betrayed my kin by takin’ her back.”
“Yes, you saved my life, which is why I won’t have you hanged. Bernard!” He shouted for his servant. “Have my guards brought in immediately.”
“Father, no!” Sina bolted from her chair. “Please hear what we have to say!”
He turned to her. The rims of his eyes were red. His mouth was drawn tight over his teeth. “You love this man. You went along with all this.”
“There was no other choice.”
His expression hardened. “I’ll inform your mother that you’ll be leaving for Hanover in the morning.”
“Sire, let me—”
“MacGregor!” the king shouted at him. “You will not speak another word!”
“This is precisely why I couldna tell ye,” Adam told him, shaking his head at him. “How will ye be a good king when ye dinna listen or know how to control yer temper?”
For an instant, her father paused in his tirade and stared at him as if he were remembering their quick friendship.
“I trusted you,” he told Adam solemnly. “’Tis hard for a king to find someone he can trust.”
“’Tis hard fer any man,” Adam replied as the guards filed into the room.
“Pistols,” the king advised them. “No one tries to fight this man. You will lose.”
“Father!” Sina grasped his robe. Two of his guards turned to look at her. “Please, I beg you. Don’t put him in Newgate. I have never asked you for anything. Never! Do this one thing for me.”
But he was too angry to listen. “He betrayed me,” he replied coolly.
“Only in my name,” Adam told him, rising from his chair and preparing to go quietly. “Only that.”
“If you do this,” Sina shouted at her father, “I will never forgive you!” Let them arrest her too! She ran to Adam and clung to him. “He is my husband,” she said looking into his eyes, “and not just in name.”
Adam smiled at her and kissed her hand, then held it between them. “Give him time to take it all in,” he said quietly. “Go back to yer rooms and take care of Goliath. I dinna want ye near the prison. He’ll release me. Dinna fear.”
He looked over her head at the king. “Lord Standish was obviously here when he stole that letter. He’s a danger to her. Keep Goliath with her.”
Her father nodded, then looked away as the guards led Adam out.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Sina followed them out into the moonlit night and waited in Adam’s arms for the carriage that would take him to Newgate. Her heart broke into pieces at the thought of him in that horrible, filthy place when he hadn’t done anything but be a MacGregor. Everything he had feared for his kin was happening to him.
“I’m proud to still carry your name, husband,” she breathed into his neck when he lifted her in a consuming embrace.
The carriage had arrived.
“Dinna be too hard on him, lass,” he asked of her. “Be strong. I’ll return to ye.”
She tried to be strong and only wept instead of doing what she really wanted to do, which was yank on the carriage door and try to get him out.
It began to rain as they drove him away. Sina stayed where she was, watching the carriage disappear. She wanted to pull out her hair and scream. How could this happen? She c
ouldn’t lose him.
Finally, she returned to her rooms to take care of Goliath. She wouldn’t speak to her father tonight. She might never speak to him again. She hadn’t yet decided.
Her heart went cold when she opened her doors and Goliath wasn’t there waiting. She called him and began searching her rooms. Did he get out? How did he close the door behind him? “Goliath!”
She saw a sheet of parchment laid out on her bed with her dried-up sprig of heather atop it.
She picked it up and read it. Come to the library. Come alone if you want the mongrel to live.
She ran out of the room, out of her apartment, and back out into the night.
It couldn’t be William! He didn’t know about her alcove in the library. But he’d gotten her letter, her heather. He’d been in her room. But how the hell did he get Goliath out of her rooms without a fight? Had he hurt the dog?
She ran, lifting her skirts and letting the letter and her bun fall away. When she reached the library, she ripped open the doors the way she’d wanted to do earlier. She knew she should have taken a weapon, but it was too late for that now. She plunged inside.
“William!”
He appeared at the top of the stairs. “Hello, my dearest.”
“Where’s Goliath?” She couldn’t bear to look at him after all he’d done. But she climbed the stairs two by two to get to the top. “Goliath!”
“You have no words of greeting for me?” He tried to stop her from passing him.
“You tried to kill me,” she seethed and slapped his hand away. “Goliath!”
“Stop your bellowing. The creature is over there.” He pointed to her alcove and she ran to it.
When she saw Goliath lying on her blankets, still and quiet, his snout tied shut with rope, her knees nearly buckled. She went to him and, kneeling beside him, listened for his breath. He was alive. “What did you do to him?”
“It attacked me when I went into your apartment. It had me down on the ground, like so many others…” His voice faded into the past for a moment. “I hit it in the skull with the handle of my pistol. Twice, as a matter of fact. The beast wouldn’t go down. I brought it here because I knew you would come for it. You’ve protected it from the beginning, and now I know why.”
